S A C R E D E N C L S U R E S . 87 



PLATE XXX. No. 4, 



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STONE WORK ON " BLACK RUN," ROSS COUNTY, OHIO. 



This unique work is situated in the little valley of " Black run," a small tributary 

 of Paint creek, and is distant about fifteen miles from Chillicothe. It is indicated 

 by the letter E, in the " Map exhibiting a section of six miles of the Paint creek 

 valley." The walls are composed of stones ; but if ever regularly laid up, they are 

 now thrown down, though not greatly scattered. The outlines are clearly defined, 

 and can be exactly traced. The body of the work is elliptical in shape, its 

 conjugate diameter being one hundred and seventy feet, its transverse two 

 hundred and fifty feet. There is a single opening or gateway, fifty feet wide, on 

 the south, where the walls curve outwards and lap back upon themselves for the 

 space of sixty feet. The most remarkable feature of this singular work consists of 

 five walls, starting within ten feet of the unbroken line of the elliptical enclosure, and 

 extending thence northward, slightly converging, for the distance of one hundred 

 feet. The lines of the outer walls, if prolonged, would intersect each other at the 

 distance of two hundred and fifty feet. These walls are twenty feet broad at the 

 ends nearest the enclosure, and ten feet apart. They diminish gradually, as they 

 recede, to ten feet at their outer extremities. The western wall is nearly oblite- 

 rated; the stones for the construction of all the "cabin" hearths and chimneys in 

 the neighborhood having been taken from this spot. The western portion of the 

 wall of the ellipse has also suflfered from the same cause. The amount of stone 

 embraced in the outer walls is considerable, probably sufficient to construct walls 

 of equal length, six feet broad and eight feet high. They now exhibit but slight 

 evidence of ever having been regularly laid up, and more resemble mounds of stones 

 rudely thrown together. The stones have been removed from a section of the central 

 wall, to the base ; but we have been unable to ascertain that the operation disclosed 

 relics of any kind. The wall of the body of the work appears considerably lighter 

 than those last mentioned, and it is now quite impossible to determine whether it 

 was ever regularly constructed. The stones cover a space fifteen or twenty feet 

 broad, and are irregularly heaped together to the height of perhaps three feet. 

 The work is overgrown with briers, bushes, and trees ; which, when in leaf, com- 

 pletely hide its features from view, and render a satisfactory examination impossible. 

 In the autumn or spring, the entire outline of the woi'k is distinctly visible. 



The purposes of this strange work are entirely inexplicable : its small size pre- 

 cludes the idea of a detensive origin. It is the only structure of the kind which has 

 yet been discovered in the valleys, and it is totally unlike those found on the hills. 

 The great " Stone Fort" on Paint creek (Plate IV) is but two miles distant, and 

 overlooks this work ; both may be regarded as belonging to the same era, and 

 as probably in some way connected with each other. 



